The Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia was founded in 1860, by the Mapuche Indians in territory now occupied by the Republics of Chile and Argentina.
Orelie-Antoine de Tounens, a French lawyer living in Araucania, was elected by the Mapuche to be the first King of Araucania and Patagonia. In 1862, King Orelie-Antoine was kidnapped by Chilean soldiers and deported to France. He made three unsuccessful attempts to reclaim his throne and rally the Mapuche against Chile, which he belived to be invading and colonizing Mapuche lands.
In 1878, King Orelie-Antoine died in exile in Tourtoirac, France.
The royal house has been in exile in France for over a century. The current head of the Royal House of Araucania and Patagonia is Prince Philippe of Araucania.